Charles h



(No Model.)

- O. H. GODFREY.

WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM.

Patented Aug. 30, 1887.

INVENTOI? WITNESSES W n r 0 t Lilhoghpher. Wlihinghm, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. GODFREY, OF FREMONT, NEBRASKA.

WATER-SUPPLY SYSTEM.

EPECIPICA'IION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,942, dated August 30, 1887.

Application filed February 5, 1887. Serial No. 226,623.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. GODFREY,

of Fremont, in the State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-Supply Systems; and I-do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,-and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. My invention relates to an improvement in watersupply systems, and particularly to a more perfect method of combining the Watersupply of aseries of drive-wellsthat are located in a limited area, lifting and forcing the aggregate volume of water to any desired point ina novel manner.

On the 2d day of March, 1886, I obtained Letters Patent of the United States, No. 336, 997, for an improved water-supply system in which a series of drive-well tubes are shown connected with a common receptacle or chamber, the action of a lifting and forcing pump being utilized to exhaust the air in the receiving chamber, into the bottom of which chamber the tubular case of the nest of drive-wells is secured by water and air tight joints, the suction-pipe from the pump connecting with the interior of the water-reservoir or sealed chamber by a pipe that enters the top surface of this chamber.

The object of my present invention is to further perfect the system exhibited in Patent No. 336,997 by constructive features and a novel combination of parts, that will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings making a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device in perspective. Fig. 2 shows a modified form of attachment of the well-tubes .to the sealed water-receptacle.

The closed or air-tight Water-chamber A is constructed preferably of sheet metal and in the form of a truncated cone having a short cylindrical base. The dimension of the chamber A may be made to accommodate any desired number of well-tubes B,that are either inserted in the base, as shown in Fig. 1, or madeto connect with the cylindrical side surface of the chamber, as may be preferred.

The well-tubes may be utilized as a means of support for the water-tank A, or a properly- (No model.)

constructed foundation-wall may be provided to hold this water-chamber at any desired point of elevation above the ground surface. The latter method of supporting the reservoir A is to be preferred in case the nature of the soil in which the well-tubes are inserted is not sufficiently firm to afford the stability to these tubes that is necessary to upbear the superimposed water-chamber and its contents.

Upon the bottom of the water-chamber A,at or near a central point therein, the water-conduit pipe 13 is secured by water-tight joint. This pipe is made to bend at a right angle below the water-chamber, and is extended laterally a suitable distance to connect with a forcepump, 0. This pump 0 is preferably operated by an attached steam-engine, of which D is the cylinder, the combined engine and pump being mounted upon a stable foundation, E, a convenient distance from the water-reservoir or vacuum-chamber A. It is not necessary that the pump-station be located near,to the water-chamber A, as it is the intention to have this chamber elevated above the'pumpdevel, and consequently the water contained in the chamber A will flow by gravity to any point if the conduit pipe B is throughout its length located in alower plane than the bottom of the chamber to which it is attached.

Upon the top surface of the water-chamber A, preferably at a central point, the pipe F is attached air-tight. This pipe is extended a proper distance to connect with an air-pump of proper capacity to exhaust the air from the water-chamber A.

It is apparent that the action of the attached air-pump just mentioned will exhaust the air from the interior of the attached chamber A, which exhaustion or vacuum will raise the water from the lower level penetrated by the vacuum-pump that is connected to the top of 100' the chamber A is first started, and water thus raised in volume sufficient to fill the chamber.

WVater flowing by gravity through the conduitpipe B to the steam-pump O is by operation of this pump forced to any point desired for its consumption.

The advantages pertaining to my improved system are evident, as the air-exhaust pump, which may be combined with the steam-engine that operates the water-forcing pump, will insure a copious supply of waterin the chamber A and maintain it at a minimum outlay or cost for the work thus performed. The watergages G, attached to the chamber A, will ex hibit thelevel of water in this containing-chamber and prove the proper and effective action of the Vacuum-pump which is attached thereto. They will also indicate a failure of watersupply in the wells, if such should occur.

The attachment of the well-tubes B upon the side of the chamber A instead of its bottom surface will obviate the necessity of the use of check-valves, which were provided in my first system of water-supply, as escape of water from imperfect vacuum in the chamber A cannot occur, owing to the position of the welltubes when they are connected above the floor of this chamber.

Slight changes in the construction and elementary combinations of this water-supply system may be made without departure from the spirit or exceeding the scope of my invention. I do not therefore restrict myself to the exact forms shown; but,

Having fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, with a' closed chamber and d rive-well tubes that penetrate and are attached to its side wall or bottom surface, of a pipe attached to an air-exhaust pump and a waterdelivery pipe attached to the lower part of the sealed or air-tight water-chamber, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a close or air-tight water-chamber,aud a series of drive-well tubes that are secured thereto to deliver water raised in them, of water-gages placed on the waterchamber, a water-conduit pipe attached to the lower part of this water-chamber, and a water- CHAS. H. GODFREY.

Witnesses:

J. E. FRICK, FRANK DOLEZAL. 

